Java is a popular programming language that is platform independent, object-oriented, and widely used for web and application development. It provides classes and interfaces for common data structures like Vector and Hashtable. Key concepts in Java include inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, and encapsulation. Inheritance allows classes to inherit properties from parent classes. Polymorphism allows objects to take on multiple forms. Abstraction hides complex details and focuses on concepts. Encapsulation wraps code and data together and controls access through public methods.